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Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr. Defining Moments: When Managers Must Choose Between Right and Right. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1997, 139 pages (uncorrected proof), $19.95. Reviewed by Stephen A. Laser, Managing Director, Stephen A. Laser Associates, Chicago, IL.
As the title implies, this is a book that focuses, not on the standard ethical fare of choosing between right and wrong, but instead looks at the more difficult dilemmas that involve selecting between two right ways of approaching the matter. Although the actual text is only 130 pages, it is a daunting little work. The complexity of the scenarios, along with the frequent references to philosophical and literary tracts, make for tough sledding. Because there is a significant contribution of material from other sources, the flow of the book is bumpy, and it forces the reader to slow down and digest a heavy meal of ancient and medieval writings. This is no One Minute Manager.
The three scenarios featured in the book move in ascending order from the personal to the organizational to, finally, the more global or societal. The first two, the personal dilemma and the organizational issue, are relevant to most managers. In some way or another we can see ourselves faced with similar situations. The final scenario is far larger in scope than most readers will be called upon to address, yet as stakeholders, and even stockholders, in global organizations, the problem is an interesting one.
Specifically, the three dilemmas can be summarized in the following manner. The first situation involves a young Black investment banker, Steve Lewis, who is employed as an analyst by a prestigious Wall Street firm. He has been asked to attend a presentation regarding the topic of municipal finance. Although he knows little about the subject at hand, the treasurer for the State of Missouri is Black. To be (window dressing) or not to be (window dressing) is the question.
The second case study involves the head of marketing for a distributor of computer products. Peter Adario is married with three children, and he faces a ticklish problem....